Health Blog

A healthy body and a sound mind

What Your Aching Feet May Be Telling You

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z186716448Lately, I have been experiencing pain in my feet – the soles to be exact. While I think that it is probably due to my weight gain over the year, I still went ahead and researched on the topic. Guess what I found out? More than being overweight, there may be other reasons for aching feet! Some of them could actually be serious so aching feet should not be left alone, thinking that it is only due to age.

In the Health section of the New York Times, they featured this topic a while ago and presented some questions that can help you analyze the cause of your pain. Here are some of them.

Are you diabetic?
I didn’t realize this but poor blood circulation can cause feet pain due to the distance between the lower limbs and the heart. Alternatively, this can cause loss of feeling. For diabetics, this is dangerous because you might get wounds in your feet without realizing it. This can, in turn, lead to more complications such as infection or amputation.

Do you have flat feet or high arches?
Both conditions have adverse effects on the muscles on the feet. Either way, you need to wear the right kind of shoes that will help you deal with the condition and avoid pain.

Are your shoes the right size?
Some people may not realize it but their shoes may be contributing to the pain and discomfort they feet. The best way to go would be to have your feet actually measured and get the right size and type of shoes.

Needless to say, you have to see a podiatrist if you experience consistent pain in your feet.

More Parks For Health

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One of the things that I miss most living in the city (as opposed to the suburbs or the country) is having a park or field to go to for relaxation. I am sure that I am not the only person who thinks in this way. In fact, even city officials recognize the need for some greenery in their cities. Here is an added incentive for this – a study has shown that parks help narrow the health gap between the rich and the poor.

Richard Mitchell from the University of Glasgow, together with his co-researchers, released their findings recently. CBC News Canada ran this feature story:

Green spaces like parks and forests help narrow health gaps between the rich and poor living in cities, say researchers who are urging urban planners to invest in greenery.

In Saturday’s issue of the Lancet, Richard Mitchell of the University of Glasgow and his colleagues looked at mortality records, income data and the amount of green areas for more than 366,000 people in England who were below retirement age in 2001 to 2005.
In general, studies show that people living in poorer areas tend to be more unhealthy and die earlier because of differences in diet, lifestyle and access to medical care.

Living near open, undeveloped land such as parks, forests, playing fields and river corridors seemed to help reduce this gap, according to the latest study.

Again, it does not take a rocket scientist to figure this out. Still, common sense, when backed up by scientific studies carry more weight to some people. Perhaps if you think that your city needs more parks, you can come up with a petition citing this study.

The Benefits of Massage

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massage-custom.jpgAmong alternative (i.e., non-medicinal) means of staying healthy, massage is my favorite. That’s because it’s not only very healthy in physical terms, but it can also be very helpful psychologically. Aside from helping your body relax, the therapeutic benefits of massage includes relief from the stresses of everyday life.

There are quite a number of massage techniques, and these vary depending on the origin. But the benefits are usually the same, no matter what technique is applied. Here are a few physical and mental/emotional benefits, to note.

  • Improved circulation. Massage usually involves manipulation of the muscles and joints. This helps the blood to flow more freely through the body. Massage also aids in the flow of lymphatic fluids since these require muscular movements to flow through the body.
  • Stress relief. This is one of the most important benefits of massage. Physical manipulation of muscles can be very pleasing and relaxing. This can lead to an overall feeling of relaxation and release from the physical stresses of everyday living.
  • Pain reduction. Some types of massage focus on reducing pain from injury or athletic activities. Some techniques are also designed to reduce pain from surgery, accidents, or other medical conditions.
  • Alertness. After massage, one usually feels more alert and energetic. This is especially appreciated by professionals who take quick massage sessions during their workday.

There are countless benefits to touch therapy. We’ll try to cover some particular techniques here on the Health Blog, along with a discussion of their origins and applications.

Bad Times Equals Good Health

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home-cooking-365-703552They say that without hard times, we cannot become better people. If you think about it, there are a lot of sayings from way back that run along a similar vein. No pain, no gain. You have to go through the fire to reap the benefits. You have to be polished and sanded to become a shiny gem. The list could go on and on.

But what about the economic crisis that we have been experiencing all over the world? Could it bring about something good as well? According to researchers, life expectancy increased during the time of the Great Depression – by 1.9 years to be exact. On the other hand, a 5 percent rise in the GDP lowered life expectancy by one or two months. Other studies have yielded similar results, not only in the United States but also in other countries.

So why is this the case? One possible reason is that people tend to drink and smoke less during a recession. More so, people also tend to eat out less and cook at home more. Another possible reason is that people tend to bond together and help out each other more in times of need. This level of social cohesion and support may actually help promote better overall health, hence the increase in life expectancy.

It does make sense, and you probably have had similar experiences in the past several years. Bottom line? Take control of what you can – your lifestyle and health habits – and make the best of the situation!